Fuel-feeding device for automobiles



W. H. MUZZY.

FUEL FEEDING DEVICE EUR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I0. 1920.

g, Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

WILLAM H. MITZZY, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

FUEL-FEEDIN G DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ea oet. 4, 1921.

Application filed April 10, 1920. Serial No. 372,836.

To al] 'zo/0m t may concern.'

Be it known that I, VILLIAM H. MUZZY, a citizen of the `United States, residing at Chicagmjn the county of Cook and State of illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fuel-Feeding Devices tor Automobiles, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in fuel feeding systems for automobiles and has more particular relation to improvements in the so called vacuum tanks employed for feeding the fuel from a tankat the rear of theinachineto a convenient point adjacent to the carbureter and from this point feeding it as bu reter.

@ne of the principal objects of the invention is to provide a tank which is electrically operated by the electric devices forming part of the regular running equipment of the automobile.

A further object of the invent-ion is to provide a vacuum tank of simple and cheap construction and 1raving a large' capacity required to the cary rfor delivering ga .olene A still further object of the invention is to provide a sinple and cheap electrically operated tank.

The invention also has other objeclts all,

ot which will be hereinafter more ularly set forth and claimed.

ln the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:

The figure represents a central vertical section of my improved form of tank, the wiring and controlling parts ot the regular automobile equipmentlbeing shown in diagram.

ln the aforesaid drawings 1 represents the outer shell of the vacuum tank, 2 the inner receptacle, Sl the cover for the latter, 4 the attaching nipple Yfor the suction pipe coin nected to the manifold of the engine as usual, 5 the nipple for the connection ot' the pipe which leads to the main fuel supply tank usually located at therear of theI machine. Gasolene discharges from the chamber 2 into the shell or chamber 1 through a dapper valve loosely mounted by headed studs over the lower open end of a passage formed in an elbow 37, which passage connects with the chamber 2. rlhis construction and operation is old and well known in particthe` art and is shown in the patent to Webb Jay No. 1,125,549 dated Jan. 19th, 1915.

A discharge nipple 7 connects with the carbureter of the engine. The upper edge of the shell l is provided with a cast ring 4() forming -a support for a/lange 41 on the upper edge of the inner receptacle 2.

he top 3 is secured in positionover the flange 41 by screws 13, a `cork washer 39 being interposed .at this point to provide an air tight joint. i

A rod 10 is guided at its lower end by an apertured plate 11 secured to the bottom of the receptacle 2 but allowing gasolene to pass freely into the elbow 37.' This rod 10 carries a cork float 8 at its lower end and an air valve 17 near its upper end and is further provided with an operating nut 16 fast thereto. The upper end of this rod 10 is guided through an aperture formed in the upper wall of a cage19 which is mounted on a plate 15. This plate is fast on the upper end of a brass sleeve 14, the lower end ofthis sleeve being threaded and screwed into the top 3. A companion plate 15 is also mounted near the lower end of the sleeve 14.- These two plates 15 form the supports lor the winding or bobbin wires 25, which are properly insulated and which with the sleeve 14 form an operating solenoid.

The float 9 carries a sott iron sleeve 12 which may be either made solid as shown or may be constructed of a series of sol't iron wires soldered together in a manner well known in the art. This sleeve 12 is loosely mounted on the rod 10 so that it may slide Yfreely up and down thereon.

The upper end of the rod' 10 is arranged, when it is Jforced upward to contact with a spring cont-act aITn 23 and bring this arm into Contact wth a companion arm 22 to close a shunt circuit at this point. The arms'l 22 and 23 are secured -to insulating blocks 21 and 24 which are secured together and to a casing 20, mounted on top of the cage 19 and fully inclosing lle contacts.'

The cage 19 is formed with a series of air ports 18 which are left free as shown or maybe covered by tine screen'netting if desired.

The timing shaft 3G ot' the engine carries the usual cam block 37 which contacts with a roller on the pivotedcontaet arm and thus separates the Contact of this arm from the Contact of the contact screw 34 which is suitably mounted on the insulated base A15. This screw 34 is connected to a battery 31 by a wire A wire 46 connects the opposite pole of the battery to the primary winding of the usual spark or induction coil 32.- A wire 29 connects this primary winding ofthe coil to the bobbin wire A wire 30 connects the Contact arm to the opposite end of the wire 25.

lt will be seen from the aboveithat the current passes through the bobbin 25 of the solenoid every timethe primary circuit ot the engine ignition devices is closed, except at such times as when the upper end of the rod 1() is holding the contacts 22 and 29 together and at this time the circuit is shuuted through the wires 27 and 28.

The operation of the device is as follows:

lVhen the ioats are both down as shown in the drawings7 the atmosphere valve 17 is closed and held so against the buoyancy ot the fully submerged float S because of they vacuum in the chamber 2 formed bythe suction from the engine manifold to which the chamber 2 is connected. ln this position of the devices the gasolene Jfrom the main tank is flowing into the receptacle 2 through the attaching nipple 5. TheI c-urrent is passing. through the bobbin wires 25 a great number of times per minute according to the speed ot the engine, As the gasolene in the chamber 2 rises above the level shown in the drawings, the float 9 moves upward, and the upper end ot the sott iron sleeve 12 is moved up into the brass tube 14: and into the eld of attraction ot the solenoid. Both the float 9 and the sleeve l2 are then forced upwardstep by step, by

' the action of the solenoid and by the rising upward'as 'descends in the chamber 2.

float until the upper end of the sleeve contaetswith the nut 16 when the valve 17 is forced off of its seat, against the torce ot the atmospheric pressure which is holding it down, by added to the buoyancy torce ot the float S.

The impulses of the solenoid at high engine speeds are so close together that there is practically a steady pull on the sleeve .12 and it would remain suspended at such timesin its upper position it' no means were provided for breaking the4 How otl impulses. This `means I provide however inthe contacts 22 and 23. lVhen' the rod '10 is moved above`described the upper end ot' the rod. forces the contact' 23 against the contact 22 and the circuit is shunted from the bobbin of the solenoid tovthe wires 27 and 28. The sleeve 12 is thus released and the sleeve and the float 9 drop as ythe gasole'ne As the rod 10 however is independently supported by float 8 and as this l'loat is t'ully submerged at this time. the contacts 22 and 23 remain closed and the float 9 and sleeve 12 gradually descend as the gasoleue passes down sleeve 12 is longer than the solenoid bobbin the impulse of the solenoidl the through the valve (3. lt will ol' course be.. understood that when the valve 17 is raised atmosphericI pressure enters the chamber 2 and the gasolene descends from this charnber through the valve and flows into the shell 1. By the time the gasolene leve# descends enough to effect the float 8 the s ceve 12-has passed wellout ot` the active inuence of the solenoid, and when the lcontracts 22 and 23 finally separate and allow the current to again fiow through the solenoid7 the sleeve 12 will not be operated. As the gasolene descends in chamber 2 the float 9 is lowered until it contacts with thel upper side of the float 8. As the gasolene continues to descend the combined buoyancy level ot' the two floats is reached and the fioat S descends from its upper position to its lowerposition andthe valve 17 is thereby closed and the pumping operation is repeated until the float 9 again rises and the sleeve 12 through .its operation by the. sole noid again opens the air valve.

lt will`ot` course be understood that the and for this reason will seek to center itself in the bobbin with an increasing torce as it' passes upward step by Step and will ,finally deliver sutlicient of a blow or impulse against the nut .when it reaches itto to-ree the valve 17 off of its seat. This hammer blow is particularly desirable in devices tor opening a valve drawn or held closed by atmospheric pressure as the hammer blow will open'the valve when a certain amountI of force is uavailable where a steady pressure with the same torce might not open it. It is of course understood that the solenoid is particularly adapted to such a use. as its action in an intermittent circuit is especially ot a tapping blow type but a` solenoid ot vsufficient. strength might ot course be employed to torce the valve open by a steady push.

l do not care to limit myself to an electrically operated tank dependent upon the regular ignition devices ofthe machine as' it will be apparent that suitable circuit closing devices might be easily lattached to some moving part of the engine land connected to the tank independently of the regular circuits. l

It will ot course be appreciated that with such circuit closing devices and at slow engine speeds with the devices as shown the shunt circuit controlled. by the contacts 22 120 and 23 might be omitted as the impulses sent through the solenoid could be so spaced that the sleeve 12 could drop out of theactive intluence ot the solenoid between its impulses, when the gasolenehas descended so that the float 9 no longer supportsthe sleeve.

The windings ot the. solenoid add'very little resistancev to the passage7 ofthe eurrent while the solenoid is in action and consume less than orne ampere when'active. lt- 130 will of course be understood that vthe active period of the solenoid is very brief as the pumping action of the tank is rapid when it is drawing gasolene but as its capacity 1s greatly in excess of the gasolene consumed by the engine, its inactive period is quite extended and during this latter period no current is passing through the solenoid.

lt will of course be understood that the gasolene descends by gravity from the outer atmospheric chamber l to the larbureter in a manner well known in the art and shown in the aforesaid J ay patent. lt will also be understood that by including the actuating circuit for the tank in the interrupted circuit of the regular ignition of the machine the need of providing any make or break devices at or near the tank, is obviated. As before stated the shunt circuit, at slow speeds of the engine, may be eliminated and the device operated entirely from the make and break of the ignition devices, the sleeve l2 and its fioat making step by step movements downward between successive impulses of the solenoid when the float is no longer supported by the gasolene. ln this application of the invention the intermittent aclill lili

tion of the circuit is necessary to allow the sleeve l2 to move downward, as it drops slightly between each impulse.

l claim-- l. lin a vacuum tank, the combination with a vacuum chamber, of a suction connection therefor, a connection feeding gasolene thereto, an atmosphere valve for said chamber, mechanical means within the chamber controlled by the liquid levelthereof for operating the valve and additional means, electrically operated, for supplementing said mechanical means for opening the valve.

QQln a vacuum tank, the combination with a vacuum chamber, of a suction connection therefor, a connection feeding gasoiene thereto, an atmosphere valve for the chamber, a float in the chamber, means controlled by the float for electrically operating the valve and an independent float for the valve.

3. ln a vacuum tank, the combination with. a vacuum chaniber, of a suction connection therefor, a. connection feeding gasolene thereto, an atmosphere valve for the chamber, a lioat for supportingI the valve, and elec fically actuated devices for operating the valve.

a. ln an automobile the combination with ignition devices including a primary circuit and make and break devices therefor, of a fuel feeding device, and electrical means included in said circuit for actuating the said fuel feeding devices with a step by step movement.

5. ln an automobile the combination with ignition devices including a primar f circuity and make and break devices therefor, of a fuel feeding tank, an atmosphere valve for said tank, and means included in said circuit for actuatin' said valve with a step by step movement.

6. ln an automobile the combination with ignition devices including a circuit and make and break devices therefor, of a fuel ceding device, an electrical actuator for the fuel feeding devices included in the circuit and a float controlling the actuator.

7. In an automobile the combination with interrupted circuit devices operated by the engine, of a fuel feeding device, and electrical controlling means for the said feeding device included in the circuit and having' a step by step operation.

8. In an automobile the combination. with interrupted circuit devices operated by the engine, of a fuel feeding device, an atmosphere valve for said feedinof device, and electrical means for operating the said valve included in the circuit and having a step by step operation. i

9. ln an automobile the combination with circuit devices forming a part of the regular running equipment of the engine, of a fuel feeding device included in and controlled by the circuit and having a step by step operation.

l0. ln an automobile the combination with an ignition circuit, of a fuel feeding device included in and controlled by the circuit and having a step by step operation.

l1. In a vacuum fuel feeding tank, the combination witha vacuum chamber having a suction connection and a gasolene inlet `and outlet, of an electrically controlledk atmosphere'valve for the vacuum chamber anda float .for holding said valve open.

l2. ln a vacuum fuel feeding tank, the combination with a vacuum chamber having a suction connection and a gasolene inlet and outlet, of an atmosphere valve for the vacuum chamber, a float and electrical means for opening the valve, and independent devices for breaking the circuit for said means when the tank is full.

13. In an automobile the combination with ignition devices, of a fuel ,feeding device having an electrical control included in the ignition circuit, and means controlled by the fuel feeding devices for shunting the circuit from the electrical control.'

14e. ln an automobile, the combination `with ignition devices, of a vacuum fuel feeding tank, an electrical control for the tank included in the ignition circuit andhaving a step by step operation, and a float and connections in the tank governing the electrical control.

15. ln an automobile the combination with ignition devices of'a vacuum fuel feeding tank, a solenoid on the tank included in-the ignition circuit, an atmosphere valve, and a Hout vurlying an armature {fo-acting with th(l `ohnoit'l to operate the vulve.

16. In an nlltoinohilo the combination with ignition (knives. of ai Vutnlnn fnei inviting;- tnnk. un Ohwt'i'iv olwintol' foi' tho tank included in thev ignition vii'vnit. :in ntinosphoi'c vulve, u flozit und. zu'inutni'tl for olwrelting; thtl \':1]\'0.'an l :xn imlcpvnllnt ,Hout vonnettcd to thtl vniw.

1T. ln an uutolnohilu the voinhinntion with :1n Olot-tric(-iicllit contl'oliogl hv thv ong-inte. of :l vnfflnnn {no} touting talnk. :in utmoslihtl'o vnlvv for tho tzxnk` :in vlvttionmgnot inrhlthti in tho ohwtriv rii'mlil nml lot'ntwt outsido oi tht` trink. nml :1 (tout unit :1|'n1:1- Inl-tl in thtx tank unil .'oau'tinjg with th@l olit'ti'onlzitnot to olwi'utv th(` :itniophui'u wlw.

1S. 1n :in :intolnohiltl thv (-oinhinzition with :in ignition t'ilt'nit including; :i lnzlkt :imi hi'ozik kwh-0. ol' :i vut-nulli tzink toi' hunting tho tuoi, :in :itniosphvi'tvniw 'ol' th(l tank7 an electricdu'tinatoi' on the outside of the tank invhulett in the ignition Circuit` n 'Honig und ui'nizit'ni'o within they tank co-uctii'ig with thv zlttnutoi' to open the atmosphere vulve3 imlopundcnt inwins t'oi' holding;r they valve olwn. und lovitos for rende-ring' the electric :utnntoi inzu't'ivo It). In zx vnf-num tank thtJ combination with n vzunnni chinnhcl, of n suction conncction thm'vtoi, :1. Connet'tion 'feeding gzisoleno thereto, un atmosphere vulve for smid chzunim'. means for open-ating tho 'hive Within thtA tank. und magnetic devices exterior oi thv tank for actuating the. optnting means within th@ \11nn chzunhe'i through the intactV walls of the Same.

in testimoniv hereof it iix my Signature in tho presence of two witnesses.

YILLAM H. MUZZY. 'itneses:

M. MUZZY, M. H. Mozzi'. 

